Well-drilling apparatus



; J. A. M DONELL WELL DRILLING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 4, 1926 ZSheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 28, 1928. 1,660,999

' J. A. M DoNELL WELL DRILLING APPARATUS All Patented Feb. 28, 19:28.

' UNITED STATES JAMES A. MAGDONELL, OF LIMA, OHIO.

WELL-DRILLING APPARATUS.

Application filed 0mm 4, 1920. Serial no. 139,204.

This invention relates to well drilling apparatus, and particularly to such an apparatus adapted for drilling laterally at a point in the wall of the, well so that the well may be extended in any definite predetermined direction and at any depth in a plane which intersects at an angle the axis of the well casing and which is preferably at a right angle thereto.

In deep well drilling it frequently occurs, when a well becomes dry or a dry hole is struck, that there is a vein or supply of oil, water or gas at one side or the other of the well adjacent thereto and that if such vein or supply can be tapped b lateral drilling the well may be utilized or removing the same, thereby avoiding the necessity of d rilling other wells immediately adjacent to the first well in an endeavor-to find the fluid for which drilling. This may also he utilized in mineral prospect holes for the interception of mineral veins or bodies.

The object of this invention is the provision of a simple and efficient apparatus for effecting lateral drilling at any desired depth in the well and continuing such drilling for any desired extent within practical lhnits.

The invention is fully described in the following specification, and while in its broader aspect it is capable of embodiment in different forms, one embodiment thereof is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,' c

Figure 1 is a central vertical section-of a well casing and enlargement or hole at the lower end thereof with an apparatus em- I bodying the invention mounted therein and in section on the line 1-1 in Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a different side elevation of the well and apparatus shown in Fig. 1 with the lower end of the apparatus in osition for lateral drilling. Fig. 3 is a site elevation of the lower end portion of the channel guide member of the apparatus and of the supporting leg members therefor. Fig. 4 is an enlarged section on the line 4-4 in Fig. 2 with a part broken away. Fig. 5 is an enlarged crosssection on the line 55 in Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a portionof' the channel guide member and of the support therefor. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary 'sideelevation of a flexible chain member carrying the drilling head, with portions of. the chain broken away.

Fig. 8 is a top view of a portion of the chain shown in Fig. 7, and Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view of the lower end portion of the apparatus similar to that shown in Fig. 2 with the drilling means only partially extended to side drilling position.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a ,well casing and 2 a hole or enlargement in the lower endof the well below the casing. In the present embodiment of the invention, 3 designates a guide member of channel bar form in cross-section and composed of a plurality of channel bars secured together in end abutting relation, the length of such member being suflicient to reach from the top to the bottom of the well. This guide member is provided at its lower end with two hingedly connected sections 4 and 5, the former being hinged to the lower end of the body portion of the guide member, as at 6, in a manner to permitthe section 5 to, swing laterall to a to the longitu inal axls of the member body and in a direction so that the section 5 stands outwardly from the channeled side of the member. The hinge between the sections 4 and 5 is disposed so that its pivot 7 is at the closed side of the channel members, thereby permitting a pivotal breaking movement of said sections in a direction opposed to the relative pivotal breaking movement of the section 5 with respect to the main body of the guide member. When the sections are the section 5 constituting the top or shelf portion thereof and with the section 4 constituting the bracingleg.

lane at right angles thus broken they constitute a bracket with A bar 8 is attached to each side of the guide member 3 for limited longitudinal sliding movements relative theretov and has its lower end extended a desired distance below the lower end of the section 4. The upper end of each bar 8 is provided with a longitudinal slot 9 for receivinga pin or boss 10 projecting from the respective side i of the main body portion of the member 3 ashort distance above the hinge 6. The lower end of the guide member section 4 is pivotally connected to each bar 8 by a pivot 11, thus permitting the section 4 to swing laterally in one direction with respect to the supporting bars 8. The bars 8 are connected together above the pivot 11 b a channel part 12. It is apparent that w en a pullis exerted on the member 3, or when ing bars 8 resting on the bottom of the well,

the guide member 3 will lower with respect to the bars by reason of the guide pins 10 passing down to the lower ends of the guide slots 9 of the bars, and the sections 4 and 5 will be caused to break relative to the main longitudinal lineofthe guide member and stand as indicated in Fig. 2, so that the section 5 serves as a laterally deflecting portion of the guide.

The drill-head 13 of the apparatus, which is more or less conventionally shown, is carried at the lower end of a chain 14 adapted. to slide in and be guided by the channel of the guide member 3 and having its links hingedly connected along the meeting edges thereof which are outermost with respect to the guide channel, so that the chain is permitted to have flexing movements laterally of the guide and away from the channeled side thereof. This permits the chain to follow the angled course of the guide defined by the laterally projecting section 5 thereof, so that upon lowering the chain and drillhead into the well casing along the guide 3 the drill-head and chain will be caused to change their course of movement to the plane of projection of the guide section 5, which, in the present instance, is'at right angles to the well axis. The links of the chain '14 are in the form of blocks of substantially rectangular form and have flat ends at right angles to the chain axis, so that when in abutment the chain will be permitted to flex only. in one direction and that in the direction permitted by the locating of the connecting pivots at the outer side of the chain with respect to the guide channel. It is, therefore, apparent that while with this form of chain it is permitted to freely flex in a direction required to adapt it to follow the angled course of the guidway, it is prevented from flexing in the opposite direction from straight position. In other words, when the drill-head 13 has been projected a distance from the outer end of the support ing channel 5 with a number of the chain links positioned without the end of the channel, the drill-head will stay supported in horizontal position by reason of such links a standing in end-abutting relation and preventing a downward flexing of the projected end portion of the chain. The chain links have their adjoining ends connected at the sides thereof opposed to the side location of the pivot pins 14 thereof by coiled contractile springs 16 located in aligning pockets 17 in the link ends, as shown in Fig. 7. These springs yieldingly resist a flexing of the chain and tend to normally keep the chain links in longitudinally aligned relation.

An inclined guide 18 projects at an incline from the lower end of the main body portion of the guide member-3 across the pivotal connection of the section 5 with the guide member and serves to guide the deflecting of the chain 14 from the plane of the guide member 3 to that of the guide section 5.

It is preferalfle to have the drill driving motor of the drill-head 13 fluid operated, and, in the present embodiment of the apparatus 19, designates a flexible tube which is disposed at one side of the chain 14 and connects at its lower end with the motor portion of the drill-head. If an electric motor is employed, the electrical wires for the same may be passed through a tube like or similar to 19. 0

The chain 14 is held in the channel to the guide member'3 adjacent to the point of angling of the chain laterally thereof by a Ushapcd member 20 which straddles the channel member il with its channel opposing that of said member and has guide rolls 21 connecting the free ends of its legs aitd extending across the back of the guide member 3 in rolling or guiding engagement therewith, as best shown in Fig. 5. Within the channel portion of the channel member 20' at each side of its center and at each end is mounted a roll 22 which has rolling engagement with the respective side edge portion of the chain 14 and cooperates with the roll 21 to retain the chain within the guide member 3. The member 20.is intended to pass freely down the guide 3 and chain 14'until stopped by the engagement of its lower, roll 21 with a stop finger 23 adjacent to the lower end of the body portion of the guide 3. When the member 20 is in this position, it is locked against upward movement relative to the guide 3 by a pawl 24 in each side of the channel portion of the member 20 engaging a notch 25 in the adjacent edge portion of the guide 3, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. In Fig. 9 the pawl 24 is shown as out of engagement with the notch 25, this being accomplished by engagement with the pawls 24 of. lugs 26 on one of the links of the chain 14 when the chain and drill-head are at a predetermined point .ina raising movement thereof. When the pawls 24 arereleased from engagement with the guide 3, the member 20 and the chain and drill-head may be removed from the well for the purpose of repair orreplacement without disturbing the position of the guide.

The tube 19 passes up through the portion of the member 20 between the two sets of rolls 22 (see Fig. 5) and is, therefore, held to the chain 14 at such point. This prevents the tube, when the chain and tube channel are being pulled u from their angularly deflected positions, rom rubbing against the lower edge wall of the casing 1.

The operation of the apparatus is as fol lows: The guide channel 3 and chain 14 with j the attached drill-head 13 and tube 19 ma be lowered together into a well casing wit 1 the chain 14 and drill-head preferably disposed above the lower end of the main body portion of the guide 3, or, in other words, above the laterally movable section 5 thereof. When the apparatus has been lowered a suflicient distance into the well for the support cause the drill-head 13 to pass along the v sections 4 and 5 will lower by gravity to laterally deflected section 5 of the guide and to be extended the desired distance therefrom to drill a hole into the well or at right angles, in the present instance, to the casing axis. As the drilling progresses, the drillhead may be moved forward by a lowering of the chain 14 in the guide 3 and theoreti cally the drilling may be continued laterally from the well an indefinite distance. drilling at least can be extended laterally within practical limits so that a hole of considerable length could be drilled laterally in the well wall and thereby intersect any vein or flow of gas or liquid within a reasonable distance from the well in the line of drilling. Such lateral drilling may be carried on in different radial lines of the well so that the immediate territory entirely around the well axis can be prospect ed within reasonable limits from a single well. If a flow of gas or liquid is tapped by a lateral hole, the

'removal of the flow may be taken care of through the well without necessitating the, drilling of another well. When the drillhead has been run a short distance into a hole drilled thereby, the bottom wall of the hole will cooperate with the section 5 of the guide to support the drill-head and extended portion of the chain in drilling osition. When the drilling of a lateral hole as been completed, the chain drill-head and tube may be withdrawn into the main body por tion 3- of the guide and the apparatus may then be lifted from the Well. Upon a lifting of the apparatus, the support 8and guide vertically aligned position with the 'main portion of the apparatus, thereby permitting a withdrawal of the apparatus through the well casing. It is evident that the extent of Thesible that the use of the apparatus to drill either at right angles to the well axis or at angles inclined either upwardly or downwardl a desired extent from a plane cuttingt e well axis at right angles.

I wish it understood that my invention is not limited to any specific construction, arran ement or form of the parts, as it is capable of numerous modifications and clam ages without departing from the spirit of t e'claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is 1. An apparatus of the class described, having a guide with an angularly movable laterally defiectable guide portion, a flexible support having a drill means at its lower end guided for longitudinal movements by the guide and adapted to be projected from the lower end of the guide laterally of an associated well axis for drilling a hole laterally in the well wall.

2. An apparatus of the class described, having a guide adapted to be lowered into a well and having a hinged section at its lower end capable of angular deflection ,with respect to the main portion of the guide, means for supfporting the hinged section in any position 0 angu arity with respect to the main guide, and means guided by said guide and its hinged section for drilling a hole laterally in the well substantially in the direction of angular projection of the hinged standard section with respect to the guide.

3. In an apparatus of the class described a guide for lowering into a well and having a main portion disposed longitudinally of the well and a guide portion at its lower end capable of lateral deflection with respect to the well axis and forming an angled continuation of the guide, and drill means guided by said guide and caused to have its drillin portion take a drilling course at an angle YOII1 the axis of the well determined by the angle of projection of the lower end portion of the guide relative to the well axis. 4. In an apparatus of the class described, an elongated guide adapted to be lowered into a well and having an angularly deflectable guide portion at its lower end operable to assume a predetermined angnlarity with respect to the well axis, a drill-head and a flexible carrying means therefor guided for lengthwise movements by said guide and adapted to be deflected for lateral drilling by the angularly projected portion of the uide. g 5. In an'apparatus of the class described, an elongated guide adapted to be lowered into a well and having a laterally defiectalowering of the guide 3 after the support @ble guide portion at its lower end, means has struck the bottom of the well will determine the angle of projection of the guide connected to the guide member and deflectable portion for relativel deflecting one a section 5 from the well axis so that it is pos predetermined extent wlth respect to the it -a guide of elongated form adapted to be lowered into a well and ha ving,a laterally deflectable portion at itslower e-nd, means carried by the guide and operable by contact with the subjacent support and a relative lowering movement of the guide to effect an angular adjustment of said laterally deflectable guide portion with respect to the guide, and means guided by said guide and laterally deflectable portion for drilling in the well-wall at ail angle to the well axis and in the angle of projection of said (leflectable guide portion with respect to the guide. a

7. In an apparatus of the class described, a guide of channel bar form adapted .to be lowered into a well and having a laterally deflectable guide section at its lower end,

(means associated with the guide for deflecting the guide section a predetermined extent relatitve to the guide when the guide is lowered into a well, and means guided by said guide and deflectable'section for movement lengthwise thereof and adapted to have its lower end laterally deflected by said guide section to drill the well 'wall at an angle to the well axis};

8. In an apparatus of the class described, a guide member of elongated form adapted to be lowered into a well and having a hinged guide section at its lower end adapted to be swung laterally with respect to the guide, means carried by the guide and connected tosaid section for effecting a lateral swinging of the section with respect to the guide when the means strikes a subjacent support and the lowering of the guide means is continued a predetermined extent relative thereto, and a drill means and flexible support therefor guided for longitudinal move' ments b said guide and adapted to have its drilling course changed by said hinged section from a line lengthwise of the well.

to a line laterally thereof defined substantially by the line of projection of the hinged section from the main portionof the guide.

9. In an apparatus of the class described, a guide adapted to be lowered into-a well and having a laterally angled portion capable of angular adjustment with respect to the wall, a flexible chain guided for move mcnts by said guide and its angled portion, said chain having its sections connected for lateral flexing movement in a direction corresponding to the deflection of the guide, and drill means carried by the chain and adapted to have its movements guided by the guide.

10. In an apparatus of the class described, a. guide adapted to be lowered into a well and having a laterally angled portion, a flexible chain guided for movements by said guide and its angled portion, said chain also having means for normally retaining it in straight aligned .position, and drill means carried by the chain and adapted to have its movements guided by the guide.

11. In an apparatus of the class described, an elongated guide adapted to be lowered into a well and having a guide portion at its lower end adapted to be placed in angular relation to the main portion of the guide, a drilling means, a suspending carrier for v the drilling means guided for longitudinal movements by said guide and capable of lateral flexing movements only in the direction ,in which deflected by following the angular course defined by the guide, said drilling means and the adjacent end of the carrier adapted to be projected a distance from the angular portion of the guide 6 lengthwise thereof.

12. In an apparatus of the class described, an elongated guide adapted to be lowered into a well and having a guide portion at its lower end adapted to be placed in angular relation to the main portion of the guide, a drill-in means, a sus ending carrier for the drilling means gui ed for longitudinal movements by said guide and capable of lateral flexing movements only in the direction in which deflected by following the angular course defined by the guide, said drilling means and the adjacent end of the carrier adapted to be projected a distance from the angular portion of the gnideg lengthwise thereof, and means cooperating with the guide to retain the carrier in engagement therewith.

' 13. In an apparatus of the class described an elongated guide adapted to be lowere into-a well and having a gulde portlon at its. lower end adapted to be placed in angular relation to the main portion of the guide,

a drilling means, a suspending carrier for i the drilling means guided for longitudinal movements bysaid guide and capable of lateral flexing movements only in the direction in which deflected by following the angular course defined b the guide, said drilling means and the a jacent end of the 1 carrier adapted to be projected a distance from the angular portion of the guide lengthwise thereof, and means cooperating with the guide to retain the carrier in en- 'gagement thereWith,-and a flexible tube ear- JAMES A. MACDONELIJ. 

